My fellow Americans
My fellow Americans,
Today is one of the most chaotic times in our great nation’s history. More than since the Civil War of the 1860′s more and more Americans are starting to see each other as enemies instead of Americans which quite frankly is a shame. I love talking with people on both sides of the aisle provided they want to have a civil debate and not start name calling or spreading false information.
The last decade has in particular been extremely divisive. Social media is playing a role in it but then again so is the main stream media. Every where you go and turn you see the media on both sides accusing each other of bias and lies without much evidence in the wayside. Whatever evidence that shows up is often quickly generated and proven to be a fake. This has occurred to MSM outlets like CBS and CNN and even MSNBC. But it has happened to Fox too.
That being said, I am a independent voter. Used to be hardcore GOP on most of the issues but a certain thing called life has made me reconsider some of my positions. Some of it is due to my religion. I’m a Christian but I will also be the first to say that some would consider me to be a backslidden Christian. Why is that? I’ll be honest I don’t go to organized church very often but I do read the Bible and pray. What I am seeing and witnessing goes contrary to the will of the one Lord I do serve.
Politics have always been a very nasty business. It should not be but alas it is so. I do not mind GOP and Dems disagreeing but what I have seen is both sides treat each other as adversaries instead of fellow Americans as they are. What is lacking is one key element to get things done and that is respect. I have talked with many good people, and I mean really good people, that are liberal and just as many that are conservative and most of them I talked to admit that this viciousness often seen has bled down from Washington to now the general public.
Both the GOP and Dems differ greatly on the ideas of how to improve our country. I tend to lean liberal now (I used to be staunch conservative but then again life happens) on a lot of issues. Case in point. One major question that should be asked is how do we improve our country? How do we make it better for all? And when I say all I mean all (all groups, races, ethnicities, etc). As it stands the country is not benefiting all groups though potential is there for it to be able to do so.
I am going to be honest. Right now if 2020 was to happen right now my vote would be with Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. I cannot in good conscience vote for Mr. Trump (but then again I did not vote him in 2016 either). Mr. Trump is an example of the viciousness that has taken over the country. It is one thing to have disagreements with people, as we all do, but to go SM and Twitter to slam them and to mock them and call them names it is a different thing entirely. I do not agree with him politically either on many things but it is his personal conduct that is bothering me more.
The Trump administration in my view has helped turn this republic into more of an authoritarian state. Case in point this week, in my home state of Alabama, they passed an anti-abortion law that is strictest in the nation. Something tells me that they will lose and the law will get struck down but for the moment let’s forget that. Let’s talk about how restrictive it is.
As most people are aware of there is no exception to rape or incest. So theoretically that means a woman or a little child, that may be as young as nine, gets raped or molested and winds up getting pregnant. Sick but it has happened more often than what people want to talk about. Even though I personally am pro life I do not believe it is the government’s place to make medical decisions for people. That should be between them and their doctor. If a doctor or any person does commit an abortion they will face a minimum of 10 years and maximum of 99. Basically a Class A felony in Alabama. Class A felonies include 1st degree rape and 1st degree murder but there are many more Class A felonies. But you get the point. That is the penalty that doctors face. This is wrong and unjust.
Again, I am pro life personally. And I am not just pro life in the sense of letting babies live though it certainly does encompass that. I am pro life in that I am also against capital punishment. I am pro life in that I believe that many states are doing women and kids disservices. They are denying kids and women services they deserve. A lot of times women have to raise kids by themselves which is a tough predicament which is made worse by the often lack of opportunities for mother and child. And don’t even get me talking about foster care in a lot of places either. That needs improvement by first states willing to commit more resources to helping improve the foster system.
Besides the state and local governments, many men are to blame for this too. It does take two to have intercourse and thus cause a pregnancy to occur. Men who intentionally or recklessly get women pregnant should support the kids. And I don’t mean just financial support although that is included too. I am talking about emotional and physical support. Part of the reason we are seeing an increase in mental illness and suicides in youth is the breakdown of the family unit. This occurs on both the left and right so no one side is to blame. But restore the family (With supportive parents) and you will likely have less mental issues which in turn will help reduce other problems our country is facing today.
I do not believe abortion or other issues are the biggest threats to our society. it is the lack of respect, lack of empathy, lack of willingness to put one into another person’s shoe and trying to see things from their perspective even if they disagree with it. It is this that is causing the chaos that has plague the country for the last ten years or so. The last time the US got this divided it went to a Civil War. I certainly hope and pray that is not the case this time.
No matter what side of the aisle you are one I encourage you to be civil to all even to those who disagree with you. Dr. Martin Luther King once talked about how people should be judged on their character and not skin color and I agree we should judge people on their actions and not based on skin color or religion which has led to more divisiveness. Be civil. Be king. Remember positivity can help make a difference even if it is just one person at a time.
Jeff C Fuller M.S.Ed
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